We know that actually health outcomes are determined only 25% by the health care system itself, 15% by genetics and biology, and 10% by the physical environment. A full 50% is actually determined by what we call the socio-economic determinants of health. Knowing this, we feel strongly that we do need to take a look upstream at those factors that actually cause people to become ill in the first place, things such as poor housing, inadequate food supply, inadequate access to proper early childhood development, and education.
A health impact assessment would enable governments to actually view every policy decision through a health lens so that they could look at upstream things such as housing and see how policy decisions regarding this would impact health down the road. It has been used around the world in a number of areas. A large study done in the United Kingdom actually showed the cost benefits of using a health impact assessment tool, and that it will—